Packaging-machine for tobacco and like materials.



E. L. BRACY.

PACKAGING MACHINEFOR TOBACCO AND LIKE MATERIALS.

' APPLICATION man AUG-30. ms.

1,217,694. v I Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. L. BRACY.

PACKAGING MACHLNE FOR TOBACCO AND LIKE MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.30, l9l6. I 1,217,694. Patented Feb. 27,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WW A, 0 2 A M ATTORNEYS n nwnnn L. Jamey, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR 'IO wnren'rs AUTOMATIC TOBACCO PACKING MACHINE COMPANY PORA'IIOII OF WEST VIRGINA.

, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, A COB- PACKAGING-MACHINE non roBAoco ANDLIKE marnnmts.

c To all whomz'tmay concern."

Be it known that. I, EDWARD 'L; BRAGY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have 5 invented certain new and useful Improve invention is more especially, though not ex clusively, applicable to machines known as large number of such machines fin use and, generally speaking, suchmachmes conform to the machines illustrated-in the United States} patents granted to William Rose, Nos. 502,637, dated August 1, 1893, and 586,076, dated July 6, 1897.- The invention is illustrated in connection with a mach1ne which is practically identical with that Shown in the last mentioned patent, to which patent reference may be had for an understanding of those features of the machine which it is 'not deemed necessary to illustrate hereinfor a complete understandlng of the present improvements. a

In the said prior machines a wrapper and a suflicient quantity of tobacco to form each package are fed to an intermittently rotated mold wheel having at its peripherya series of pocketsin wh1ch 'the package is given shape and by the movement of the mold wheel each pocket is successively brought.

pa er, and sometimes of paper and metal foi but the paper in most instances is satus ecmoatma of Letters Patent.

the Rose tobacco packer, there now :being a.

lap; then the end folds of the wrapper are rated with parafiin or other waxy water-resistant material, andit is the object of the present invention to provide a simple and conveniently applied means whereby the overlapping portions of the side folds and the end folds of th'e wrapper may be effectually sealed; that is to say, united together in such wise that they are retained in placeand the package when completed is practically water t ght, or sufliciently so to prevent access of moisture and consequent deterioration of the contents of the package.

In carrying this'invention into practice in connection with the Rose tobacco packer pro- VlS IOII is made whereby at that stage-in the formation of the package where the end folds of the wrapper are being made, the side folds are subjected to the action, of a heating element which will sufficiently soften or hquefy the water proofing material of the wrapperto cause the overlapping edges to adhere or unite, and at the next stage in the formation of the package, 71.0., that where the ends of the package are usually indented, the side folds are subjected to the action of a cooling element whereby the union of the side folds is completed, and simultaneously,

.of these sealingoperations the package itself is clamped firmly in the mold wheel pocket and its shape preserved not only by the walls of the pocket but by a segmental clamping PatentedFeb. 2'7,1917. Application filed August 30,1916. Serial 110.117,?38.

member in which the heating and cooling elements for the side folds are located.-

Referring to the accompanying draws' Figure 1 is a partial side elevation with arts in section and-parts broken away, of a ose-tobacco packing machine embodying the present improvements, the said view substantially correspondingvto Fig. 7 of the Rose Patent No. 586,076.

'- Fig. 2 is a view looking toward the machine shown in Fig. 1 from a point of view at the left of Fig. 1 and showing the mold wheel and the movable holding or clamping Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6,

but with the mold wheel pocket in the next succeeding position where the package is subjected to the influence of the cooling element for the end folds.v

Like reference characters in the several figures indicate the same parts.

For convenience in understanding the packaging machine, parts illustrated in Flg.

' 2 which correspond to parts shown in the last mentioned Rose patent are identified by reference numbers corresponding to the refthe mold wheel comes to rest this segmental erence numbers of the patent. Thus, the number 27 indicates the mold wheel which is intermittently rotated so as to bring the peripheral pockets 42 successively into position for receiving the wrapper and tobacco and for having the folds formed in the wrapper to complete the package. The wrapper having been supplied to a mold, the mold wheel is rotated one step so as to bring the wrapper into position beneath the plunger 96, carried by the oscillatory arm 97 and before the plunger descends a proper quantity of tobacco is discharged from the hopper chute 73 by the reciprocation of the pusher 76, whereupon the plunger 96 descends and compresses the charge of tobacco in the wrapper located in the mold box. The next movement of the mold wheel carries the mold box into position for cooperating with the side folding devices 104 and 113, mounted on the shaft 105 and these devices in the well known way op'erateto fold the frontand rear edgesof the wrapper over the side of the tobacco contained n the box and so as to overlap. The next movement of the mold wheel carries this box having the partly wrapped package therein into position for the formation of the end folds. In moving to this position it passes in behind a segmental clamping or holding plate 173 pivotally mounted on shaft 168, and when clamping or holding plate moves up against the periphery of the mold wheel, thereby clamping the packages contained in three of the mold boxes. The package which has moved from the side folding devices into position for cooperation with the end foldof the end folds the mold wheel makes another movement, bringing the package into a position where, when the clamping or holding plate advances, a cooling element, indicated generally by the reference letter G bears against the overlapped side edges of the wrapper, thereby cooling the softened material, and effectually unites the overlapping edges. In this position the package is brought between two oppositely movable parts which correspond in location and operation to the end punches 169 of the Rose patent, but which parts, in the present invention are in the form of heating elements H shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, and while the mold wheel is at rest, these heating elements advance and soften the water-proofing material of the wrapper throughout that part which constitutes theend folds of the package. Conveniently, the heatin elements H also serve to indent the ends 0 the packageto a slight degree, thereby insuring a firm pressure and thorough softening of the water-proofing material.

The next movement of the mold wheel brings the package into position between cooling elements I connected with. the elements H by arms K so as to move in unison therewith. When the mold wheel comes to rest the cooling elements I advance toward each other and contact with the ends of the package. In this position, as in the other positions, the package is clamped by the holding or clamping plate 17 3 and the final formation and cooling of the end folds is effected, so that the package is at this stage practically completed and ready for subsequent discharge from the mold wheel. Ordinarily, the feed movements of the mold wheel carry the wrapped and sealed package around, within a segmental guard L to a point where it is desired to discharge the packages from the mold wheel.

With this arrangement it is obvious that a series of packages are being operated upon simultaneously, and during the time that a mold wheel box is receiving a wrapper, another box is receiving a charge of tobacco; another box is in position for the wrapper to have the side folds made; another is in position to have the side folds sealed and the end folds formedanother is in position to have the side folds cooled and the end folds sealed; and another is in position to have the end folds cooled; and during each age is in position to be discharged therefrom sistance element insulation M for exert some pressure upon lapping portions are by suitable means not illustrated herein, as the same forms no part of the present inventlon.

Details of'the construction of the heating F and cooling 3 and 5 to 8, inclusive. By reference to Fig.

elements are illustrated in Figs.

3 it will be seen that the heating element indicated generally by the reference letter F is formed by mounting in a recess of the clamping or holding plate 173 a suitable re-. M to which electric circuit connections m lead, and this resistance element is partly surrounded by a heat transmitting plate M which extends to the face of the clamping plate 173 and a surroundin preventing conduction 0% heat through the plate 173, the whole being held by the liner M in which the resistance element and'pa'rts M and M are mounted. The arrangement is such that the heating element-including the parts M to M may be readily removed or inserted, and the resistance element itself maybe of any known or preferred form or constructlon. The whole heating element constitutes a flat portion of the face of the clamping plate 173 and the heat is applied throughouta central portion thereof so as to heat the overlapping edges of the side folds of the wrapper, as shown.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the cooling element is figures it will be ob-- shown and from these served that there is mounted in the clamping plate 17 3 a box-like structure N having an internal .water circulating passage 7 through which cooling water or other medium is circulated from supply pipes N In these figures there is also shown the end fold heating elements embodying resistance members 0 having electric circuit connections 0 and heat transmitting plungers or plates 0 adapted to enter the ends of the mold box and to contact directly with and the end folds of the package.

In Fig. 8 are illustrated and they embody plungers P supphed with water or cooling medium through the flexible pipe connections P As before stated the end fold heating elements and the end fold cooling elements are connected together by the arms or frames K and move in unison into and out of position to cooperate with the end folds of the pack-- ages contained in the mold wheel boxes.

In the preferred operation of the machine, the wrappers are inasmuch as it isfound that such paper not only preserves the packages but'imparts no objectionable flavor to the contents, and it has the property of readily adhering when overbrought together and the end fold cooling elements.

. machine,

formed of paraflin paper,

t0 the I an hereinbefore described.

Packages which arener referred to am to moisture and bysealing the overlapping portions a considerable saving in wrapper n c g, and cooling action sealed the manpractlcally impervious material may beefl'ected. Furthermore, the

outside dimensions reduced without" reducing the contents,v inasmuch as deep indentations for the ends of of the package may be i the package are in order to'hold means for making the side and end folds of the wrapper respectively while the package is in different positions,

ping side folds to heat during the formation of the end folds, a cooling element located in position a coolingaction when the package is in a.

- succeeding position, and heating elements located in position to subject the end folds to being cooled. I

2. In a pa kage wrapping and sealing machine, the combination with means for intermlttently feedings. package'of goods and its wrapper to successive positions, of means for simultaneously sealing the side folds and forming the package is in one position, and means for simultaneously cooling the side folds and sealing'the end folds whenthe package is in a succeeding position.

I a heater element located 1n POSltiOlljD subject the overlapend folds, when the" during the subsequent i I mampulations of the packag to subject the side folds to 3. In a package wrapping and sealing machine, the combination'with means for intermittently feeding a package of goods and its wrapper into successive positions, of means for simultaneously sealing the side folds and forming the end folds of the'pack age when the package isin one position, means for simultaneously cooling the side folds and sealing the-end folds, when the package is in a su position, and means for cooling the end folds when the package is in a third position.

4. In a package wrapping and sealing the combination tently movable mold wheel, having peripheral mold boxes, a curved clamping plate movable toward and from the, mold wheel,

a heating element carried by said plate in position to cooperate with a package conpackage in said mold box when in a succeed- V 95 heat during the time that the side folds are I position, and means for formin side and end folds in the wrapper carried in the mold box.

5. In a package wrapping and sealing machine, the combination with the intermittently movable mold wheel having peripheral, mold .boxes, a curved clamping plate movable toward and from the mold wheel, and means for forming side and end folds of the wrappers carried in the mold boxes, of a heating element carried by the clamping plate inv position to cooperate with the wrapper mounted in a mold box in one position, a cooling element carried'by the clamping plate in position to cooperate with the wrapper when in a succeeding position, and plungers movable toward and from the ends of the mold boxes, heating elements carried by said plungers for sealing the ends of the package. I v

6. In a package wrapping and sealing machine, the combination with the intermittently movable mold wheel having peripheral mold boxes, a curved clamping plate movable toward and from the mold wheel, and means for forming side and end folds of the wrappers carriedin the mold boxes, of a heating element carried by the clamping plate in position to cooperate with the wrapper mounted in a mold box in one posi-' tion, a cooling element carried by the clamp-, ing plate in position to cooperate with the wrapper when in a succeeding position,

plungers movable toward and from the ends of the mold boxes, heating elements carried by said plungers for sealing the ends of the package, and cooling elements movable in unison with said plungers and positioned to engage the end folds when the package is in a position succeeding that in which the end folds are heated.

1,217,ooa

7. In a package wrappin and sealing machine, the combination 0 an intermittently movable mold wheel having peripheral mold boxes, a curved clamping plate movable toward and from the mold wheel, a heating element carried by said plate in position to cooperate with a package contained in a mold box when in one osition, a cooling element carried by said 0 amping plate in position to cooperate with the package in said mold box when in a succeeding position, flexible pipe connections for supplying cooling medium to said cooling element, and means for formin side and end folds in the wrapper carrie in the mold box.

8. In a machine, the combination with the intermittently movable mold wheel having peripheral mold boxes, a curved clamping plate movable toward and from the mold wheel, and means for forming side and end folds of the Wrappers carried in the mold boxes, of a-heating element carried by the clamping plate in position to cooperate with the wrapper mounted in a mold box in one position, a cooling element carried by the clamping plate in a position to cooperate with the wrapper when in a succeeding position, plungers movable toward and from the ends of the mold boxes, heating elements carried by said plungers for sealing the ends of the package, cooling elements movable toward and from the mold boxes and in position to engage the end folds when the package is in a position succeeding that in which the end folds are heated, and flexible pipe connections for supplying a circulating medium to said cooling elements.

EDWARD L. BRACY.

package wrapping and sealing 

